I just heard.

Well, Michael is gone. I just heard the news.

I have mixed feelings about Michael. I have to admit the Thriller album did hit hard during my third grade year of school. I remember I had a notebook with all the Jacksons' names on it. Yeah, even Tito. Billie Jean, Thriller and PYT are some of the tunes that stand out in my memory. After the MTV/Thriller stage, MJ faded to wayside for me (no pun intended).

Over time, Michael just creeped me out. With all the allegations and with his own statements regarding sharing his bed with children, I had no use for him. Michael mismanaged his money and was surrounded by a bunch of "yes" men similar to Elvis Presley. On the other hand, he may have made the best business deal of all time by purchasing the rights to the Beatles' catalog of songs.

Was Michael a role model/Civil Rights leader for the Black community? I don't no. Civil Rights leader is a little ridiculous. That's all I have been hearing on television. I don't even watch it anymore. I don't feel that I'm in a position to say yes or no since I am not African American. He did break down some racial barriers on MTV for black artists. And MTV was a big deal in pop culture and influencing society. You can take that at whatever it's worth. I also believe that it is absurd to discredit Michael's influence on music, his talent and his influence on culture. However, to glorify the man as an upstanding person is huge stretch. A person that admits to sharing his bed with children that are not his own and pays hush money to a family during child molestation cases - pretty much meets the criteria for a wack job. And THAT's only 1 part to his crazy life!

I also don't find it amusing that Bill O'Reilly and other television "entertainment reporters" find it amusing to rope Michael's kids into all of this by questioning their "whiteness" or "blackness" (like they don't have enough problems of their own). They had no choice in the matter! Don't bring them into this, Bill. Bill O'Reilly you receive my Pinhead award for this one.

Michael didn't influence my music. Did he influence music around the world? Yes. I didn't buy any of his music. I wasn't looking to buy his next record. Was his talented? Yes. Was he a strange bird? Yes. Did he molest children? Don't know, but if I had a poker hand riding on it, I would go all in. Did he invent the moonwalk? No.

I will predict a new Michael Jackson album very soon that will receive critical acclaim. Next years Grammys to follow.